Wrap around cowl for an outboard motor



y 31, 1956 E. c. KIEKHAEFER 2,756,736

WRAP AROUND COWL FOR AN OUTBOARD MOTOR Filed Sept. 13, 1954 3 2Sheets-Sheet 1 I F162. Brit. 41M

ATTORNEY y 1956 E. c. KIEKHAEFER WRAP AROUND COWL FUR AN OUTBOARD MOTORFiled Sept. 15, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 MAE/V701? ELMER 6. MEWEFER FIG. 3.

ATTORNEY linited States Patent WRAP AROUND COWL FOR AN OUTBOARD MOTORElmer C. Kiekhaefer, Cedarburg, Wis.

Application September 13, 1954, Serial No. 455,492

15 Claims. (Cl. 123-198) This invention relates generally to aprotective shield or cover for a machine and more specifically to animproved cowl for an outboard motor,

Heretofore, a cowl encasing the engine, commonly referred to in theindustry as a power head, has been provided for outboard motors toprotect the power head from the entry of foreign matter such as rain andwater spray causing engine failure and rusting of the parts thereof, andto protect boat occupants from receiving electrical shocks and burns byinadvertent physical contact with the power head. The prior artoutboards were relatively noisy, since the cowls were not constructed tomaterially mufl'le the noise produced by the power head. Applicantprovides an improved cowl of novel construction which can be easilyassembled and disassembled and which completely encloses the power headto protect the power head from entry of foreign matter, and materiallymutiles the noise produced therein.

it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide animproved cowl for an outboard motor that materially muflles the noiseproduced by the power head.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved cowl for anoutboard motor that is less resonant than prior known cowls.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved cowl for anoutboard motor that is easier to assemble and disassemble than priorknown cowls.

Objects and advantages other than those set forth above will be apparentfrom the following description when read in connection with theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation view with portions thereof in section of apart of an outboard motor embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section view of Fig. 1 taken along line 2-2; and

Fig. 3 is a segmental view of a part of an outboard motor embodying theinvention shown partly in elevation and partly in section taken alongline 33 of Fig. 1.

As shown in the drawings, a preferred embodiment of this invention isillustrated as applied to a part of an outboard motor having a segmentaldrive shaft housing 4 and a power head 5 mounted on the drive shafthousing 4.

Attachment means comprising a clamp bracket 6 and a swivel bracket 7 isprovided as shown in Fig. 3 for attaching the outboard motor pendantlyto the transom 3 of a boat, not shown. The clamp bracket 6 is shown ashaving a pair of spaced inverted U-shaped clamps 9, only one of which isseen in Fig. 3 adapted to engage over the upper edge of the transom 3.The clamps 9 each comprise a pair of downwardly extending arms 11, oneof which contains an opening at the upper end thereof, and carries aclamping screw 13 at the lower end adapted to engage on the inside ofthe transom 8 to clamp the transom between the end of the screw 13 andthe other arm 11 of the clamp 9.

The swivel bracket 7 of the attachment means is a ice generally L-shapedupwardly and forwardly directed bracket having an opening at the upperend thereof. The swivel bracket 7 is pivotably connected to the clampbracket 6 by means of a horizontal bolt 14 passing through the openingsof the clamp bracket 6 and swivel bracket 7. The swivel bracket 7 isfurther pivotably mounted to the housing 4 by means of a longitudinalrod 16 passing through a suitable opening, not shown, in the swivelbracket 7 and engaging bushings, not shown, in the housing 4.

The power head 5 is shown as being completed enclosed in a cowlindicated generally at 17 having a lower part 18 in the form of agenerally upwardly dished member mounted between the drive shaft housing4 and the power head 5. The lower part 8 has an annular flange 19 alongthe top thereof provided with a shoulder portion 21 to form an annularseat portion. An upper part 22 of the cowl 17 in the form of a generallydownwardly dished member has projections 23 connected to the power head5 by any suitable means such as bolts 24 as shown in Fig. 3 and forms acover for the power head 5. The upper part 22 is further provided withan annular flange 26 and shoulder portion 27 forming an annular seatportion along the bottom thereof registering with the annular flange 19of the lower part 13. An intermediate part 28 of the cowl 17 is wrappedaround the lower and upper parts 18, 22 respectively with the edges ofthe part 28 supported by the annular flanges 19, 26 and mating with theshoulder portions 2i, 27 provided by the annular flanges 19, 26 toenclose and protect the power head 5. The intermediate part 28 of thecowl 17 is preferably a rectangularly shaped corrugated piece of sheetmetal of approximately 26 gauge having crimped ends 29 spot welded toform cylindrical openings as shown in Fig. 2 through which pins 31 areinserted, and is preferably constructed of a rust and corrosionresistant metal such as stainless steel.

A fastening means shown as a toggle clamp 32 in Figures 1 and 2 isprovided for drawing the ends 29 of the intermediate part 28 toward oneanother when the intermediate part 28 is properly positioned around thelower and upper parts 18, 22 of the cowl 17 to provide a relatively airtight cowl 17. The toggle clamp 32 is shown as a link arrangement havinga pair of spaced plates 33 with one end of each of the plates 33pivotably mounted around the pin 31 in one of the ends 29 of theintermediate part 28. The other ends of the plates 33 are pivotablyattached to a pivot pin 34 passing through a hole in the intermediateportion of an actuating member 36. The actuating member 36, having agenerally U- shaped cross section, is provided with an opening at oneend into which a peg 37 having a threaded opening is pivotablypositioned, and provided with a handle 38 at the other end. A latchmember 39 is provided having one end 41 threaded for engagement with thethreaded opening of the peg 37 and the other end defining a hook 42 forengaging a corresponding opening positioned adjacent the pin 31 in theother end of the intermediate part 23. The amount of tension to whichthe intermediate part 28 is subjected is regulated by varying the amountthe threaded end 41 of the latch member 39 is threaded into the peg 37.The toggle clamp 32, as is well known in the art, is constructed to beself locking by positioning the opening of the actuating member 36, inwhich the peg 37 is located, so that the opening is olf center withrespect to the ends of the intermediate part 28 and the hole enclosingthe pivot pin 34 so that the tension of the parts forces the handle 38against the latch member 39 when the actuating member 36 is closed.

With the intermediate part 28 of the cowl 17 in its assembled position,a space exists between the ends 29 thereof through which intake air isdrawn into the cowl 17.

This space is covered by an L shaped member 43 shown in Fig. 3 having aflange 44- at one end adapted to pivotably engage a suitable pivot means45 positioned in the upper part 22 of the cowl 17. The flange 44 has arib portion 46 adapted to engage a slot 47 in the upper part 22 of thecowl 17 to prevent sidewise movement of the member 43. The other end ofthe member 43 has an opening passing therethrough with a threaded bolt48 adapted to pass through the opening to engage a tapped openingpresented by the lower part 18 of the cowl 17 to securely mount themember 43 to the cowl 17. The sides of the member 43 are corrugated asshown at 49 to provide a plurality of openings for entry of air into thecowl l7.

increased mufiiing properties of applicants invention appears to beattributable mainly to two factors, one, the fact that the sheet metalintermediate part 28 is corrugated, and two, that the intermediate part28 is subjected to tension by the fastening means 32. These factorsincorporated into a cowl structure 17 produces a novel cowl arrangementthat completely encloses the power head of an outboard motor and isnon-resonant thereby considerably reducing the noise emitted by thepower head 5.

in assembly of the cowl 1"], the lower part 18 is positioned on thedrive shaft housing 4 and the power head 5 placed on the lower part 13.The power head 5 is mounted to the drive shaft housing 4 by bolts 50passing through aligned openings, not shown, in the drive shaft housing4 and lower cowl 18 and engaging tapped openings, not shown, in thepower head 5. The upper part 22 of the cowl 17 is mounted to the powerhead 5 by means of the projections 23 and the bolts 24, only two ofwhich are shown. The intermediate part 28 of the cowl 17 is placedaround the flanges 19, 26 of the lower and upper parts 22 respectivelywith the edges of part 28 mating with the shoulder portions 21, 2'7, andthe ends 29 are drawn together by the toggle clamp 32 to secure theintermediate part 23 on the lower and upper parts 18, 22. The flange 4dof the member 43 is placed in engagement with the pivot means 45 and themember 4-3 fastened to the cowl 17 by the threaded bolt 43 to completethe cowl assembly.

Although only one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, various changes and modifications of the invention may bemade without departing from the spirit of the invention or from thescope of the appended claims.

it is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. in an outboard motor having an engine supported by a drive shafthousing, the combination of: a lower generally upwardly dished cowlmember mounted on said outboard motor; an upper generally downwardlydished cowl member mounted on said engine in register with said lowercowl member; an intermediate member having end portions, said memberbeing wrapped around said lower cowl member and said upper cowl memberto connect said lower cowl member to said upper cowl member to enclosesaid engine with said end portions spaced apart to define an air inletfor the introduction therethrough of combustion air to said engine; andmeans mounted on said intermediate member for urging said end portionsof said member toward one another subjecting said member to a tensilestress.

2. in an outboard motor having an engine mounted on a drive shafthousing, the combination of: a lower generally upwardly dished cowlmember mounted on said drive shaft housing; an upper generallydownwardly dished cowl member mounted on said engine in register withsaid lower cowl member; an intermediate member comprising a sheet metalelement having end portions, said element being wrapped around saidlower cowl member and said upper cowl member to connect said lower cowlmember to said upper cowl member to enclose said engine with said endportions spaced apart to define an air inlet opening for theintroduction therethrough of combustion air to said engine; means forurging said end portions of said member toward one another; and meansfor covering said end portions and said air inlet opening to prevententry of Water and spray therethrough to said engine, said last namedmeans being spaced from said intermediate member to form an airpassageway connect ing said air inlet opening for the productiontherethrough of combustion air to said engine.

3. In an outboard motor having an engine mounted on a drive shafthousing, the combination of: a lower generally upwardly dished cowlmember interposed between said engine and said drive shaft housing; anupper generally downwardly dished cowl member mounted on said power headin register with said lower cowl member; an intermediate membercomprising a corrugated sheet stat element having end portions, saidelement being wrapped around said lower cowl member and said upper cowlmember to connect said lower cowl member to said upper cowl member toenclose said engine with said portions spaced apart to define an airinlet opening for the introduction therethrough of combustion air tosaid engine; and means mounted on one end portion of said elementadapted to engage said other end portion of said element whereby saidend portions of said element are urged toward one another subjectingsaid element to a tensile stress.

4. in a cowl including an engine enclosed thereby, the combination of: afirst member connected to one end of said engine, a second memberconnected to the opposite end of said engine and spaced from said firstmember and in register therewith; an intermediate generally rec tangularmember connecting said first member to said second member to enclosesaid engine, said intermediate member having end portions spaced apartfrom one another to form an air inlet opening into said cowl for theintroduction therethrough of combustion air to said englue.

5. In a cowl including an engine enclosed thereby, the combination of: afirst member connected to one end of said engine; a second memberconnected to the opposite end of said engine and spaced from said firstmember and in register therewith; an intermediate generally rectangularflexible sheet metal member connecting said first member to said secondmember to enclose said engine, said intermediate member having endportions spaced apart from one another to form an air inlet opening intosaid cowl for the introduction therethrough of combustion air to saidengine; and means mounted on said intermediate member for urging saidend portions toward one another to subject said intermediate member to atensile stress.

6. In a cowl including an engine enclosed thereby, the combination of:rigid first member connected to one end of said engine and having afirst flange along its periphery; a rigid second member connected to theopposite end of said engine and spaced from said first member and havinga second flange in register with said first flange; an intermediategenerally rectangular flexible member wrapped around said first flangeand said second flange to connect said first member to said secondmember to enclose said engine, said intermediate member having endportions spaced apart from one another to form an air inlet into saidcowl for the introduction therethrough of combustion air to said engine;and fastening means mounted on said intermediate member for urging saidend portions toward one another to subject said intermediate member to atensile stress.

7. In a cowl including an engine enclosed thereby, the combination of: arigid generally dished first member connected to one end of said engineand having a first seat portion along the periphery thereof; a rigidgenerally dished second member connected to the opposite end of saidengine and spaced from said first member and having a second seatportion along the periphery thereoi in register with said first seatportion of said first member; an intermediate generally rectangularflexible member wrapped around said first and second members to enclosesaid engine, said intermediate member having edges mating with saidfirst and said second seat portions and having end portions spaced apartfrom one another to form an air inlet into said cowl for theintroduction therethrough of combustion air to said engine; fasteningmeans mounted on one end portion of said intermediate member andcoacting with means on said other end portion for urging said endportions toward one another to subject said intermediate member to atensile stress; and means for covering said end portions and said airinlet opening to prevent entry of water and spray therethrough to saidengine, said last named means being spaced from said intermediate memberto form an air passageway connecting said air inlet opening for theintroduction therethrough of combustion air to said engine.

8. In an outboard motor, the combination of: a drive shaft housingmember; an engine member supported at one end by said drive shafthousing; a lower cowl element connected to one of said members adjacentto said one end of said engine; an upper cowl element connected to theopposite end of said engine in register with said lower cowl element andspaced therefrom; an intermediate cowl element wrapped around said lowerand upper cowl elements to enclose said engine; means for removablysecuring said inermediate cowl element to said lower and upper cowlelements; and means provided by one of said cowl elements for theintroduction therethrough of combustion air to said engine.

9. In an outboard motor, the combination of: a drive shaft housingmember; an engine member supported at one end by said drive shafthousing; a lower cowl element connected to one of said members adjacentto said one end of said engine; an upper cowl element connected to theopposite end of said engine in register with said lower cowl element andspaced therefrom; an intermediate cowl element comprising a generallyrectangular flexible sheet metal member Wrapped around said lower andupper cowl elements to enclose said engine; means for removably securingsaid intermediate cowl element to said lower and upper cowl elements;and means provided by one of said cowl elements for the introductiontherethrough of combustion air to said engine.

10. In an outboard motor, the combination of: a drive shaft housingmember; an engine member supported at one end by said drive shafthousing; a lower upwardly dished cowl element connected to one of saidmembers adjacent to said one end of said engine; an upper downwardlydished cowl element connected to the opposite end of said engine inregister with said lower cowl element and spaced therefrom; anintermediate cowl element wrapped around said lower and upper cowlelements to enclose said engine; means for removably securing saidintermediate cowl element to said lower and upper cowl elements; andmeans provided by one of said cowl elements for the introductiontherethrough of combustion air to said engine.

11. In an outboard motor, the combination of: a drive shaft housingmember; an engine member supported at one end by said drive shafthousing; a lower upwardly dished cowl element connected to one of saidmembers adjacent to said one end of said engine, said lower cowl elementhaving a first seat portion along the periphery thereof; an upperdownwardly dished cowl element connected to the opposite end of saidengine in register with said lower cowl element and spaced therefrom,said upper cowl element having a second seat portion along the peripherythereof; an intermediate cowl element wrapped around said lower andupper cowl elements with edges of said intermediate cowl element matingwith said first and second seat portions to enclose said engine; meansfor removably securing said intermediate cowl element to said lower andupper cowl elements; and means pro- 6 vided by one of said cowl elementsfor the introduction therethrough of combustion air to said engine.

12. In an outboard motor, the combination of: a drive shaft housingmember; an engine member supported at one end by said drive shafthousing; a lower cowl element connected to one of said members adjacentto said one end of said engine; an upper cowl element connected to theopposite end of said engine in register with said lower cowl element andspaced therefrom; an intermediate cowl element comprising a generallyrectangular corrugated flexible sheet metal member wrapped around saidlower and upper cowl elements to enclose said engine; means forremovably securing said intermediate cowl element to said lower andupper cowl elements; and means provided by one of said cowl elements forthe introduction therethrough of combustion air to said engme.

13. In an outboard motor, the combination of: a drive shaft housing; anengine mounted on said drive shaft housing; a first cowl elementinterposed between said engine and said drive shaft housing; a secondcowl element mounted on said engine in register with said first cowlelement and spaced therefrom; a third cowl element wrapped around saidfirst and second cowl elements to enclose said engine; means forremovably securing said third cowl element to said first and second cowlelements; and means provided by one of said cowl elements for theintroduction therethrough of combustion air to said engine.

14. In an outboard motor, the combination of: a drive shaft housing; anengine mounted on said drive shaft housing; a first upwardly dished cowlelement interposed between said engine and said drive shaft housing; asecond downwardly dished cowl element mounted on said engine in registerwith said first cowl element and spaced therefrom; a third cowl elementcomprising a generally rectangular flexible sheet metal member wrappedaround said first and second cowl elements to enclose said engine; meansfor removably securing said third cowl element to said first and secondcowl elements; and means provided by one of said cowl elements for theintroduction therethrough of combustion air to said engine.

15. In an outboard motor, the combination of: a drive shaft housing; andengine mounted on said drive shaft housing; a first upwardly dished cowlelement interposed between said engine and said drive shaft housing,said first cowl element having a first seat portion along the peripherythereof; an upper downwardly dished cowl element mounted on said enginein register with said first cowl element and spaced therefrom, saidsecond cowl element having a second seat portion along the peripherythereof; a third cowl element comprising a generally rectangularcorrugated flexible sheet metal member wrapped around said first andsecond cowl elements with edges of said third cowl element mating withsaid first and second seat portions to enclose said engine; means forremovably securing said third cowl element to said first and second cowlelements; and means provided by one of said cowl elements for theintroduction therethrough of combustion air to said engine.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,723,851 Gumpper Aug. 6, 1929 1,752,134 Woodman Mar. 25, 1930 1,826,918Bell Oct. 13, 1931 1,976,209 Ashe Oct. 9, 1934 2,676,559 Davies Apr. 27,1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 569,897 Great Britain June 13, 1945

